New Mayor of Brent sworn in at civic centre ceremony

Cllr Abdi Aden is the new Mayor of Brent after being elected as the borough's first citizen at the council's Annual General Meeting.

He took over the chains of office from Lia Colacicco this evening (18 May) in a ceremony attended by councillors and community representatives.

Born and raised in Somalia, Cllr Aden moved to the UK in 1990. He has lived in Brent ever since, working for the Royal Mail for the last 22 years. With a passion for community cohesion, Cllr Aden volunteered for the Stonebridge Somali Centre for a few years before being elected to serve as a councillor for Stonebridge in 2010.

In his maiden mayoral speech, Cllr Aden said:

During his year term, the Mayor will support the following charities:

• Hilltop Circle – a Brent-based charity which trains up, mentors and supports local young people to give them the skills and confidence to lead successful, fulfilling lives.
• Sufra NW London – another local charity, which has been working with the community to address both the causes and consequences of poverty since 2013. Their Community Hub provides a lifeline for people in crisis, including families living in extreme poverty and people who are vulnerable, homeless and socially isolated.
• The Jason Roberts Foundation – set up in 2007 by former the professional footballer, they run mentoring, life skills, education and training projects for the community, within a wider programme of sports activities. In particular, they aim to create a safe-haven for children and have worked with young people at risk of offending, those excluded from school or struggling in the school curriculum, and young people with physical and learning difficulties.

Outgoing Mayor Lia Colacicco said: "It has been an honour to serve Brent as Mayor for the past year. After all the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brought, it has been a pleasure to see the borough bounce back, with communities supporting one another to adjust after such a difficult time.

“Visiting community groups and participating in events with residents over the past year was a reminder of how much of a vibrant melting pot Brent is and how committed residents are to community building. I am also so proud of the money we raised for Parkinson’s UK and Cricklewood Community Library, both of with are close to my heart.

“I want to wish Cllr Aden the best of luck for his Mayoral team. I am sure he will be a shining representative for the borough and an asset to our residents. 

Cllr Orleen Hylton, who represents Preston ward, was elected as Deputy Mayor.

Residents can keep up with the Mayor's official engagements and visits around Brent by following his Twitter feed: @mayorofbrent or on Instagram @mayorofbrent.